Normally,
the glucose concentration in extracellular fluid is closely regulated so
that a source of energy is readily available to tissues and no glucose is
excreted in the urine.
Normal Range: 60-115 mg/dL
increased
in: Diabetes mellitus, Cushing's syndrome (10-15%), chronic pancreatitis
(30%) Drugs: corticosteroids, phenytoin, estrogen, thiazides
Decreased in: Pancreatic
islet B cell disease with increased insulin, insulinoma, adrenocortical
insufficiency, hypopituitarism, diffuse liver disease, malignancy (adrenocortical,
stomach, fibrosarcoma), infant of diabetic mother, enzyme deficiency diseases
(galactosemia, etc). Drugs: insulin, ethanol, propranolol, sulfonylureas,
tolbutamide, other hypoglycemic agents.
Additional: Diagnosis
of diabetes mellitus is consistent with a fasting plasma glucose >140
mg/dL on more than one occasion. Hypoglycemia is defined as glucose <50
mg/dL in men and <40 mg/dL in women.
